"You're right, of course," Makov said, straightening in his seat. "Your clarity and focus is always appreciated, Undersecretary Illya. At your next scheduled contact, tell the asset to standby on protocol six-one-six. We had talked about it as a last resort, but I feel it could be just the thing to demoralize any remnant Federation forces that might be thinking of carrying on the fight."

"You're almost certainly signing her death warrant by executing that particular order," Illya warned.

"She will not waver," Makov said. "Her usefulness has run its course, but she can still do this one last thing for the Terran Unity."

"The name is growing on me," Illya said, standing and picking up his own tile. "I'll tell her to be ready. It may not come down to that. Our assault fleet has entered System B-1171 and, so far, there's been no word of Fed reinforcements. Wolfe will have no choice but to abandon the base or to make a stand. He'll wipe out half our forces most likely, but in the end, we'll get the Bluebird production facility and take out their Super Valkyries as a bonus."

"It's all falling into place," Makov said.

"You sound surprised, Councilman."

"And you're not?"

* * *

"Welcome aboard, sir. It's an honor to have you on—"

"Stow it, Captain. I want this tub turned around and steaming for Star System B-1171 as fast as she'll move."

Michael Barrett just blinked as PM Marcum strode out of his airlock and started barking orders at him. The confusion came from the fact that, technically, Marcum was no longer in the CENTCOM chain of command despite the veneration the service still had for the old warhorse.

"Sir…I… It's just—"

"Listen, son, you received orders that you would be taking on a VIP and the Nemesis would be put on detached duty as said VIP's personal transport, right?" Marcum asked.

"Yes, that's…technically…what they said."

"Excellent, Captain. Then please transport my ass to System B-1171 with all due haste."

"My orders also expressed the need the VIP be kept safe at all costs," Barrett said. "Perhaps if you would be so helpful as to tell me what is in System B-1171, I would be more open to taking you there, sir."

"There's a Fleet production facility there called Exeter Base," Marcum said, looking around to ensure the area was clear of potential eavesdroppers.

He'd come aboard with an old friend, former NOVA operator Amiri Essa and, at the moment, it was just the three of them standing near the window on the Nemesis's hangar deck, watching the techs in EVA suits finish securing the Broadhead in the vacuum of the hangar bay itself.

"It's where they make the vast majority of our Bluebird equipment, along with some other interesting things. It's under siege, and Wolfe is there with an outgunned taskforce trying to hold it. It's just inside the Britannia border so we're not that far away. At least not that far in this ship."